Wednesday, 7 September 2011

Herman A. "Germany" Schaefer (1876-1919), one of the most entertaining characters in baseball history, trying out the other side of the camera during the Washington club's visit to play the New York Highlanders in April 1911. Germany Schaefer, a versatile infielder and quick baserunner, played most of his career with the Detroit and Washington clubs. The camera pictured is a 5x7 Press Graflex with a modification to accommodate the large lens, produced by the Folmer & Schwing Division of Eastman Kodak Co.: photo by Bain News Serice, 1912 (George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress)

Girls baseball. Washington fans are strong for "Uncle Nick Altrock" and therefore the War Risks have Dot Meloy in training as a side line entertainer. Nick is teaching her a few of his stunts: photo by National Photo Company, 10 June 1920 (National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress)

Roger Peckinpaugh, of the Washington Nationals, tagged out at home plate during baseball game between Washington and the Philadelphia Athletics: photo by National Photo Company, 1924 or 1925 (National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress)

Fourth of July, near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Rural filling stations become community centers and general loafing grounds. The men in the baseball suits are on a local team which will play a game nearby. They are called the Cedargrove Team: photo by Dorothea Lange, 4 July 1939 (Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Collection, Library of Congress)

8 comments:

ok okmy grandfather played b-ball in Baltimorewith Ruth but broke his leg shagging fly ballswhich ended his career as a ball-player after just being signed up with Ruth to play for the Baltimore team..

so he ended up moving to D.C. like about 1939 to so and was still huge into The Senators (and B-all) so

when I was about 6, 7, 8 he'd take me to see the 50's Senators play ESPECIALLY when the Damn Yankees were here..

I recall sitting in the du-out with Altrock who was part of the Senator's staff then... I also met Schacht at his restaurant up in NYC...

Many thanks, fellows. Curtis, I think this would be a case of the ghosts of the past lifting us up by the bootstraps (sanitary sox?). A bit of laughter, a bit of fun, a bit of sadness in remembering what has been lost -- the commonalty of the social experience of "the national pastime"... then still a game, now strictly a business.

Steve, checking last night's boxscore, I fear the the Year of the Thong and the Beard may be receding before our eyes into the great Cracker Barrel of Diamond Archaeology.

Edster, always aiming to please, serving up for you a Bambino Breakfast Special (spiked with a dash of Schacht and Altrock) this morning, here.

Yes, so indeed it seems -- can't get that hit when they need it, bullpen couldn't hold it (trailing 1-0 early, then 2-1 then in the bottom of the 8th and suddenly it's 3-1 and they went quietly after that. . . .

Well (said), well (said), (well writ) . . . . Johnny's got his first soccer game today, followed by the Giants game tonight - - maybe they won't go so gently into that good night, as they did last again last night (Timmy gave up 3 hits, 1 run in 8 strong innings, got a "no decision" -- Casilla gave up game winning hit in top of ninth, after which they did indeed "pass mildly away" . . .